THE MORGAN OWNERS CLUB of AUSTRALIA (MOCA) ran our fifth CSCA round for 2017 at SMP (Eastern Creek), with an excellent field of 106 timed drivers.

The day ran well, with few issues, and many laps available to drivers, with up to 30 laps completed by one driver over the longest circuit available at SMP. A special thanks to all club volunteers who attended, including our member Wendy Maher who was one of the CAMS Stewards again for a CSCA Supersprint.

We had a reasonable entry level of 7 drivers from MGCC supporting this event, with Ernst Luthi (Alpine A110) being away overseas and my son and I having to withdraw. My son James and I had entered this sprint, however I unfortunately managed to sprain my lower back and was prevented from driving – could not even get in or out of the MGC over the side intrusion bars. Had to settle for being a spectator only, watching the others have all the fun.

The weather was kind, which helps all those who missed grabbing a carport just after sunrise and having to use the main pit parking area as their pits for the day. The garages were not available for this event as Council of Motor Club vendors set up their wares in these garages for the Shannons Sydney Classic which would be held the following day, and teams of volunteers help pack up the entry bags in one garage – just ask our member John Lindsay how much work is done!

I am glad to be able to report that in spite of the small-ish entry field from our club, it was a big day for fathers and sons! It was great to see some more sons come out and join their dads and practice some fast road skills on the track! It’s such a good thing for the males in the family to get together and do some sort of sporting event together, and why not motorsport?

We welcomed Tim Sullivan and his son Michael, Chris Scheffer and his son Francis and Gary Maher and his son Ian (from Thornleigh Car Club – hence no CSCA points in the table below). This made it even more of a shame that James and I were not running as well.

It would be wonderful if we could get a few more dads and sons to get their MGs out to join us! It’s a great opportunity to have sons learn about car preparation, driving a car faster than on the road, and to take on the challenge of improving times in a controlled manner. It’s also an opportunity to tackle any issues affecting the car and tyres – what pressures to run, and what works better? Certainly a good opportunity to practice some driving skills that may save them from possible serious injury in an incident on the road.

Tim Sullivan competed in a freshly-prepared but untested MGBGT V8, which had a rebuilt engine that punched out a great sound from the exhaust, and son Michael, had a run in Tim’s beaut MGA with MGB block. Tim was still running in the new engine and was learning about this car’s behaviour on the track, but had fun blasting down the straights. He even tested out a new form of oversized rear spoiler, when his rear GT hatch popped open, improving the view out the back, but probably slowing him down along the main straight!

Michael Sullivan was driving smoothly in the MGA whilst learning the track at his first outing at SMP, and even had a nice rear slide in the fast Turn 1, possibly lifting of throttle a bit too quickly mid corner, after which he controlled in a very tidy fashion, and re-joined the track – well done.

Chris put in some very good times in his MX-5 race car, and son Francis was enjoying his sessions in the same car until they experienced some mechanical issues with their Mazda and had to retire the car quite early in the day – a real shame.

Gary Maher had some nice smooth laps in his beaut Escort, and was enjoying seeing his son Ian manage some quicker laps and bring the car back in one piece. Our other Garry was competing in his well-presented MGB track car (but with no sons!) and had a pretty good day all said, and good lap times trying to chase down the very quick fibreglass Lotus Elan in his class.

All these blokes were offset by our keen lady driver Sonja Luthi, who had to turn up in her mighty red Suzuki Cappuccino without her usual track partner Ernst, who was overseas. Great effort Sonja. We have since learnt some sad news at our September Club Meeting that we will be losing both Sonja and Ernst as they are moving south with their work to Melbourne.

Our small CSCA MG member contingent will miss these two great supporters who have run in the CSCA competition for many, many years. Both are very positive and helpful people, and Sonja is also a qualified Event Secretary who was able to stand in for me at our MG CSCA Round back in 2014 when I needed an operation. Ernst has put together a quite a few reports for our magazine, and often takes photos at the track of club members, so Sonja & Ernst will be doubly missed! Trusting we can catch up again with you both at a Victorian race track like Phillip Island again soon, as Tim Sullivan and I did this year in regularity, and Doug Barbour did in Group S.

Best wishes Sonja and Ernst with your move and work down south, from all at MGCC Sydney!